Safety rail for pediatric platforms



Dec. 13, 1960 R. MARTIN 2,963,714

SAFETY RAIL FOR PEDIATRIC PLATFORMS Filed Feb 27, 1958 INVENTOR. RALPH MARTIN ,g enf' Unite rates Patent Ofiice 2,963,714 Patented Dec. 13, 1960 SAFETY RAIL FOR PEDIATRIC PLATFORMS Ralph Martin, 17 Schenck Ave, Great Neck, N.Y.

Filed Feb. 27, 1958, Ser. No. 718,045

3 Claims. (Cl. -331) This invention relates to pediatric equipment and more particularly to a safety device therefor.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a retractable safety rail for use on all types of pediatric platforms for preventing accidental falling of an infant placed thereon for dressing, bathing, or examination.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a safety rail for pediatric platforms of the above type which can be readily and conveniently moved from an operative and an inoperative position with one hand, whereby the free hand may be used to hold the infant while the apparatus is being adjusted.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a safety rail for pediatric platforms, bearing the above objects in mind, which is of simple construction, has a minimum number of parts, is inexpensive to manufacture and efficient in operation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following etailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a pediatric device embodying a safety rail made in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view of certain parts of the apparatus shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of certain other parts of the apparatus shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in Figure 3.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, the safety rail 20 made in accordance with the present invention is shown in operative association with a piece of pediatric equipment shown in the form of a bath stand, having a platform 12 supported upon the top of two sets of legs 11. This unit is completely collapsible for storage purposes, the safety rail in no way interfering with the normal use and storage of the apparatus. While this bath stand has been shown by way of an example of a particular use for the safety rail, it will be recognized that the safety rail can be applied equally as well to any type of pediatric platform, for the safety of the infant.

A first pair of side plates 14 extend upwardly from one pair of legs 11 adjacent to one longitudinal side of the platform 12. Each one of these side plates 14 rotatably supports an eye member 16 for rotation about an axis parallel to the plane of the platform. These eye members 16 slidably receive the end members 18 of the rail unit 20, which end members are integral with the side members 19 that are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the platform. The entire frame is constructed of a continuous rod of circular cross section, as is more clearly shown in Figures 2 and 4. With the sliding connection of the end members 18 through the eye members 16, and

the pivotal connection of the eye members 16 with the plates 14, the frame can be selectively moved from the inoperative vertical position shown in full lines in Figure l and the fully operative horizontal position shown in broken lines.

Another pair of side plates 2 are secured adjacent to opposite sides of the platform and have a pair of upwardly opening spring clips 23 secured to said side plates, such as by nuts and bolts 24. These spring clips 23 define an upwardly opening slot that is parallel to a transverse axis of the platform 12 for receiving the adjacent ends of the end members 18 of the frame 21 when it is in the horizontal position illustrated. It will thus be recognized that these spring clips provide releasable means for securing the rail in the operative position. It will also be noted that the entire safety rail 20- may be selectively moved between either of the operative and inoperative positions with one hand, leaving the other hand of the operator completely free to hold the infant during these brief movements. Accidental falling of the infant from the platform is thus prevented while the device is being manipulated as well as after it has been moved into the operative position.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be Within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A guard rail assembly for pediatric stands having a plurality of supporting legs and a supported platform comprising, in combination, a rigid rectangular frame having a pair of spaced apart parallel end members and a pair of spaced apart parallel side members, a pair of upstanding plates adjacent to each side of said platform, said plates being substantially rigid and self supporting, guide means carried by one pair of said plates slidably and pivotally supporting said end members of said frame, securement means carried by the other pair of said plates releasably maintaining said frame in spaced apart parallel relationship relative to said platform, said end and side members of said frame being of substantially circular cross sectional configuration, said guide means comprising a pair of eye members, said eye members being pivotally supported upon said one pair of said plates for ro tation about an axis parallel to the plane of said plat form.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said securement means comprises upwardly opening spring clips carried by said plates.

3. The combination according to claim 2, wherein said spring clips define upwardly opening slots parallel to a transverse axis of said platform.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 706,854 Schulze Aug. 12, 1902 1,132,554 Brett Mar. 23, 1915 1,412,796 Ziesenis Apr. 11, 1922 1,531,330 Battle Mar. 31, 1925 1,582,756 Jennings Apr. 27, 1926 2,332,831 Reinholz Oct. 26, 1943 2,491,465 Johnson Dec. 20, 1949 2,654,098 Heyward Oct. 6, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 507,427 Italy Dec. 30, 1954 

